The fully Open Access (OA) publisher MDPI and Proofig AI, a leader in AI-driven proofing and integrity software for scientific publications, have today announced a new agreement. Following the success of a pilot program, MDPI and Proofig AI have agreed to move forward with a multi-year collaboration. The rollout is starting with selected biomedical journals, with the clear objective of rapidly expanding to cover all relevant submissions.

Dr. Dror Kolodkin-Gal, co-founder and CEO of Proofig AI, said: “We are proud that MDPI has chosen to collaborate with us and to see such a fruitful partnership taking shape. The MDPI team conducted a highly professional and carefully monitored pilot, achieving excellent results in detecting problematic images. Their fast and effective integration process was impressive, and we are excited to contribute to this important collaboration. By combining Proofig AI’s advanced technology with MDPI’s editorial expertise, we can help prevent errors and maintain integrity in science, while setting a new benchmark for research integrity and quality control in publishing.”

Proofig AI’s image analysis technology tackles core challenges associated with image manipulation and scientific misconduct, including alteration and manipulation, duplication and reuse, PubMed source plagiarism, and the undisclosed use of AI-generated images. It is also the only proofing software to provide tools for assessing western blot images.

By flagging potentially problematic images for editorial attention, Proofig AI streamlines peer review and enhances outcomes for MDPI’s research community. The tool reduces the need for manual checks and gives editors more time to focus their expertise where it matters most. As a result, the partnership provides a robust solution for maintaining research integrity and preventing image-related misconduct.

During the pilot, Proofig AI proved effective in detecting duplicated and manipulated images. This included the identification of duplicated confocal and histology images, even when altered to disguise similarities. Early results show a significant decrease in post-publication image manipulation flags, year on year.

Tim Tait-Jamieson, head of publication ethics at MDPI, said: “The life sciences are disproportionately affected by research integrity issues, making vigilance in this field especially critical. This is driven, in part, by the increasing sophistication of image editing software and generative AI. Whether accidental or deliberate, image manipulation can have a lasting impact on the credibility of published research. By integrating Proofig AI into our editorial workflows, we strengthen our ability to detect scientific misconduct early and reduce post-publication amendments.”

Sanita Meijere, IT product and project manager at MDPI, said: “For more than a year, we’ve tested all the available image manipulation detection tools. Proofig AI’s quality and ease of use, alongside positive feedback from our internal users, made their software a clear stand-out. We’re thrilled to be moving forward with this partnership, ensuring we do our utmost to protect MDPI’s biomedical journals. Using this advanced image proofing software reaffirms MDPI’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in research integrity.”

About Proofig AI

Proofig AI is dedicated to helping publishers, editors, researchers, and institutions maintain the highest standards of quality and integrity in scientific publications. This is achieved through a suite of market-leading, AI-powered image analysis tools, ensuring the authenticity of research data prior to publication.

About MDPI

Headquartered in Switzerland, MDPI is a fully Open Access publisher with a portfolio of more than 480 journals across all scientific disciplines. To date, MDPI has published the works of over 4.2 million researchers, collaborating with an extensive network of academic institutions and scientific societies worldwide. Above all, MDPI is committed to ensuring that high-quality research is freely accessible to readers across the globe.

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